Inspirational Women: Ellen Page

From starring in a whole host of much-loved movies, to leading the charge against environmental decay and more recently, stepping forward as a significant icon for LGBT youths, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more forward-thinking member of the Hollywood elite than Ellen Page.Despite acting since the age of 10, balancing roles in huge-scale blockbusters and Oscar-nominated indie dramas, the self-described “tiny Canadian” has spent her time not only studying permaculture and sustainability, but also campaigning for both Human Rights and Feminist causes.

In February 2014, Page became a leading voice in speaking out against the Hollywood film industry and the “crushing standards” it sets for young people everywhere. In her emotional speech at the Time to Thrive conference, she proudly and bravely came out to the world as a lesbian, in an attempt to make a difference within the LGBT community. As one of few openly-gay actresses in Hollywood, Page sets a moving example for future generations, that there is no longer any reason to hide. In the words of the great woman herself: “we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.” Now if that’s not inspirational, I don’t know what is.